Paper making machine



Nov. 24, 1931. E. E. BERRY PAPER MAKING MKCHINE Filed June 13, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 1 1 E 17 .ZZMZZeny V $4M in I n I Q N mm W g EA; E 2 C29;Z? E r0 2 Z Z Z Nov. 24, 1931. E. E. BERRY PAPER MAKING MACHINE FiledJune 13. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7VE7 15 Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL n. BERRY, or Baton, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BELOIT IRON wonxs, A

CORPORATION or WISCONSIN PAPER MAKING MACHINE Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to a paper making machine and more particularlyto the forming part of the machine including a suct on device having atraveling cover upon which the forming wire is adapted to be supported.

It has heretofore been suggested that the stationary suction boxes incommon use in connection with the forming wire of aFourdrinier apermachine be replaced by traveling suction boxes to prolong the life ofthe wire by reducing the abrasion between the wire and the top surfaceof the suction boxes. Suction boxes that travel with the wire, however,have not gone into general use because of the cumbersome and impracticalnature of the structures previously proposed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a practicalsuction device for use in extracting water from a traveling web whereinthe member through which suction is applied to the web travels with theweb and 1s hydraulically balanced against the pneumatic pressureresulting from the suction applied thereto.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a suction device toreplace the present stationary flat boxes in general use on Fourdrinierpaper machines of such construction that abrasion of the wire by thepassage of the wire over the suction device will be reduced to aminimum.

It is a further object of this invention to greatly reduce'the powerrequired to drive the forming part of the paper machine and also togreatly prolong the life of the expensive making wire.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a noveland improved con- 10 struction of a suction device having ahydraulically and pneumatically balanced travcling surface forsupporting the making wire.

Other and further important objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the disclosures in the specification and theaccompanyingdrawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

1929. Serial No. 370,500.

Figure 1- is a front side elevational view of the forming part of a Fourdrinier paper machine equipped with a suction device of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged .top plan view of the suction device showing thedriving mechanism, with parts removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III-III of Figure 2with parts in elevation.

Figure iis a fragmentary enlarged view taken substantially on the brokenline IVIV of Figure 3 with parts in section and parts removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view 66 taken substantially on thebroken line V-V of Figure 4. V

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectlonal view taken substantially online VI-VI of Figure 2 with parts in elevation 70 and parts omitted.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of a suction belt partly in section.

Figure8 is a sectional view taken substan; tially on line VIII-VIII ofFigure 7.

The reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a table structure orforming part of a F ourdrinier paper machine equippediwith a suctiondevice, also indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 2, embodyingthe principles of my invention. While said suction device 2 is hereillustrated in connection with a F ourdrinier paper machine as replacingthe usual stationary or oscillating fiat suction boxes, it will beunderstood that my suction 86 device is equally applicable to otherparts of a paper machine as for instance in connection with apress feltor the like, or, in general, in connection with any type of apparatusfor drying or de-watering a flowing stream of 90 stock, or any kind ofwet web material.

The tablestructure 1 comprises the usual breast roll 3, couch roll 4,table rolls 5, wire guide roll 6 and wire supporting and tensioningrolls 7 over and around which is trained the forming wire 8. Stock isintroduced onto the table structure '1 from a head box 9 provided withan apron 10 extending out over the breast roll. The usual apron sideboards 11 serve for confining the flow of Deokle straps 12 mounted upondeckle pulleys 13'and 14 determine the width-of the web or paper formedupon the Fourdrinier table and extend out over the suction device 2 fora purpose that will later appear.

The table structure 1 is shown as being of v the laterally removabletype adapted to'be rolled out over transfer track members 15 and 16 orin any other standard fashion. It will be understood, however, that mysuction device may be installed upon a stationary Fourdrinier structureor upon any type of Fourdrinier.

The suction box device 2 (Figure 3) comprises a box-like member 17extending transversely of the table structure and supported uponbrackets 18 from the side beams 19 forming a partof the table structure.Said box-like member 17 comprises a plurality of vertically dividedsections, 41, 42 and 43, with bottom walls 20. side walls 21 and 22, andouter end walls 23 and 24, flanges 25 be ing formed upon the top of theside walls 21 and 22 for supporting upper side beams 26, which havecorresponding lower flanged edges 27 resting upon and secured to theflanges 25.

The outer transverse walls 23 and 24 Figures 1 and 5) are curved toconform with the contours of a pair of rolls 28 and 29, journaled inbearings 30 and 31, respectively, and supported from the side beams 19of the table structure 1. The shaft of roll29 is extended upon the rearside of the machine, as at 32 (Figure 2) and provided with a conicalpulley 83 over which is trained a belt 34 for driving said roll 29 froma similar conical pulley 35 on the extended end 36 of the couch roll 4.Any other suitable type of driving mechanism may be employed forrevolving the roll 29. r

A plurality of longitudinally arranged open troughs 37are positionedupon said boxlike member 17 extending the full length 7 thereof betweenthe side beams 26. Each of said troughs 37, asbest shown in Figures 3 to5 inclusive. is of rectangular cross section and is provided with aplurality of spaced transverse webs 38 joining the upper edges of theside .walls of the trough. The top sur faces 39 of said webs 38 as wellas the top surfaces of the side walls of the troughs 37 are machined andall lie in the same horizontal plane. Adjacent troughs 37 are spacedfrom each other intermediate their ends by means of separating webs 40formed at spaced intervals upon the side walls of said troughs.

The bottom or main body of the box-like suction member 17 may, aspreviously stated, suitably be formed in a plurality of sections 41, 42and '43 (Figure 1), having adjacent walls 44 and 45 (Figure 5) saidwalls being provided with upper flanged edges 46 for connection withflanges 47 (Figure 5) formed As best shown in Figure 2, each-of thesections 41, 42 and 43 is provided with an individual suction pipeconnection 48, 49 and 50, said pipes extending downwardly (F igure 6)into a separator 51. Said separator 51 comprises a closed vessel havinga lower barometric leg 52 and a pipe 53 exte iding from near the topthereof in a bend 54to an accumulator 55, or the like. A suction puf np(not shown) is connected to said accumulat'br 55 for creating a partialvacuum within the sections 41, 42 and 43. l

The front and rear side beams 26 are provided with broad top flanges 56on the upfer faces 57 of which are secured angle plates L 3.

The inner vertical faces 59 of said angr plates serve as guides for thedeckle strap-. 12 and are providedwith lengthwise-extending channels 60adapted to besupplied by means of pipes 105 with water for sealing the'oints formed against loss of suction.

eaders 61 supplywater through connectmg nipples 64 (Figure 3) to-each ofthe troughs 37, said nipples 64 being threaded into the bottom of saidtroughs 37 The water supply for the header 61 is provided by a standpipe having an overflowlOland a valve controlled feed pipe 102.

The transverse end walls 65 and 66 of the troughs 37, (Figures 4 and 5)corresponding to the end walls 23 and 24 of the. lower-suc- 100 tionmember sections 41 and 43 are likewise provided with passages 67 forcontaining'a liquid such as water. Said passages 67 are formed withcommunicating vertical passages 69 opening through the tops of-theabutting webs 68 between the ends of adjacent troughs 37. A liquid suchas water is supplied to said passages 67 through a pipe A plurality ofendless belts 72 are adapted no to be trained around the rolls 28 and 29'to lie in closely abuttingrelation between the side rails 26. Actually,a very small space is left between adjacent belts 72 to preventexcessive friction. formed with a base portion 73 (Figures 7 and 8),preferably comprising built up layers of rubber and fabric 74, and anupper transverse series of integral ribs 75 having crests 76. Trou hs 77are formed between successive ribs 75. The ribs 75 havepreferably a softrubber core 78 formed integrally with the base 73 and an outer hardrubber or metal covering 79 vulcanized directly to the core 7 8.' Wheremetal coverings are used,

manganese'bronze,aluminum bronze, stainless steel or. the like may beemployed and these may be locked directly to the rubber core or rivetedor otherwise secured thereto.

The upper edge of the hard rubber or metal Each of the belts 72 is 115the belt troughs crests 76 is further corrugated, as at 80, to presenta; wavy contour for a purpose that will later appear.

1 The base 73 of each of the belts 72 is slightly wider than a trough 37and is provided with a, smooth lower surface 81 for resting upon andsliding over the machined top surfaces 39 of said troughs 37 andconnecting Webs, 38. The transverse ribs 75 extend beyord the sides ofthe base 73 of said belt 72 for a distance equal to very slightly lessthan one half the width of the webs 40 (Figure 3), so that the end faces82 of the ribs on adjacent belts 72 lie in very nearly abutting relationto each other. Between the bottom faces 83 of the ends of said ribs75and the 'iachined top faces of the webs 40 and 68 is girovided aslight.v running clearance 108 (Fig. 5). v

In the case of the two outside belts 72, the ends 84 of the ribs 75closely abut the inside surfaces of the side rails 26 with the crests 76extending to the plane of the top surfaces 57 of said side Walls. Theendless deckle straps 12 (Figures 1 and 3) overlie the ends of the ribs75 adjacent the side rails 26. The liquid in the channels 60 affords aliquid seal for the joints thus formed and also lubricates the adjacentsurfaces. In a similar manner the liquid in the passages 67 in the endwalls of the troughs. 37 rises through the vertical passages 69 toafford a liquid seal between the abutting ends 82 of the ribs of saidbelts 72.

Owing to the fact thatthe base 73 of each of the belts 72 is narrowerthan the transverse ribs 75, openings 87 are formed along the edges ofsaid belts 72 in communication with 7 7 Said openings 87, as willhereinafter more clearly appear, serve as drains for water extractedfrom a web on the forming wire 8 and also for the application of suctionthrough said belts 72 to the wire 8 and web thereon; The forming wire 8contacts the ribs 75 of the belts 72 at the crests only of thetransverse corrugations 80. The wire 8 may 'thus be said to be supportedin substantially point contact with the minute crests along the tops ofthe ribs 75. It is thus apparent that said corrugated belt portions 75will have little if any tendency to form areas of low suction upon thewire.

In' operation, any suitable vacuum is created within the hollow sections41, 42 and r 43, the effect of such vacuum being transmitted through theopenings 87 in the belts 72 to the under surface of the forming wire 8.The vacuum is thus effective to draw water from a web of paper travelingupon the wire 8, and, after the water has largely been removed, to drawa large volume of air through said traveling web andwire. The water andair pass through the openings 87 and through passages 106 betweenadjacent troughs 37 into the box-like sections 41, 42

and 43, and are thence discharged throu h the pipes 48, 49 and 50,respect1vely, to t e individual separators 51, where the water and airare separated, the air being pulled from the upper portion of saidseparators 51. by means of a vacuum pump or blower connected to theaccumulator 55 and the water passing down through the barometric legs52.

, As will be apparent, the belts 72 are driven in unison by means of theroll 29, ulley 33 and belt 34 from the pulley 35 on t e end of the couchroll shaft 36.

There is no relative movement between the contacting surfaces of thebelt 72 and wire 8, so that there can be no appreciable frictiontherebetween or wearing of the wire or belt surfaces.

, It will further be apparent that the pneumatic pressure upon the topsurfaces of the belt 72 due to the partial vacuum underneath said beltcan be, and is, in practice, automatically balanced by the hydraulicpressure of the liquid filling said troughs 37. This is a particularlyimportant feature of my invention, since it eliminates binding andfriction between the belts and supporting surfaces. A static head ismaintained upon the liquid within said troughs 37 by the height of theliquid within the standpipes 100. When the pneumatic, or atmosphericpressure is greater than the then static head, the level of the water inthe standpipes rises automatically 'until the static hydraulic pressurebalances the atmospheric pressure. Similarly if the pneumatic pressurefor any reason drops below the static hydraulic pressure, the waterlifts the belts 72 slightly from the tops of the troughs 37 and leaksover into the suction box compartments, thereby reducing the statichead. In effect. the rubber belts act as regulating valves when providedwith a sufl'icient volume and head of water to automatically balance thepneumatic'and hydraudic pressures acting against said belts. It isobvious that the hydraulic head may also be varied semiautomatically bycontrolling the height of the water in the standpipes 100 by means ,ofthe valve 107, to maintain a practically constant head slightly inexcess of the pneu: inatic pressure.

The end channels 67, however, are merely kept filled with water under."little or no f static speed, my invention constitutes an important headto seal the joints between the undcr surfaces of the belts 72 and thesupportimprovement and advance in the art of paper making. v

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details ofconstruction necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: 1. A suction device, comprising a stationarysuction member, a traveling member associated therewith through whichsuction is adapted to be applied and hydraulic means for balancingpneumatic pressure above said traveling member.

2. In a suction device, a traveling member through which suction isadapted to be applied and hydraulic means acting against one surface ofsaid member for balancing air pressure against the other.

3. In a suction device, a web supporting member subjected to airpressure upon one surface and hydraulic means acting directly againstthe opposite surface of said member for balancing said air pressure.

4. A suction device, comprising a stationary suction member, an endlessbelt traveling thereon and having openings thereinto, means forpartially evacuating said member and means for hydraulically balancingthe air pressure against said belt.

5. A suction device, comprising a stationary suction member, an endlessbelt traveling thereon and having openings thereinto, means forpartially evacuating said member and means for hydraulically balancingthe air pressure against said belt-and means for effecting a liquid sealbetween said member and belt.

6. A suction device, comprising a hollow suction member open at the top,a traveling cover for said member having openings therethrough, meansfor applying suction to said hollow member and means for hydraulicallybalancing the pneumatic pressure against said cover.

7. A suction device, comprising a hollow suction member open at the top,a plurality of spaced trough-like receptacles within said member, anendless web carrying member supported above said receptacles and havingopenings into the interior of said hollow suction member andmeans forsupplying a liquid to said receptacles to balance the downward pull ofsuction against said endless member.

8. A suction device, comprising a hollow suction member open at the top,a plurality of spaced trough-like receptacles within said member, anendless web carrying member supported above said receptacles and havingopenings into the interior of said hollow suction member and anautomatically maintained head of liquid connected to said receptacles tobalance the downward pull of suction against said endless member.

' 9. A suction device, comprising a'hollow suction member, an endlesstravelin cover therefor having openings thereinto t rough which suctionis applied and means for automatically balancing pneumatic pressureagainst said cover.

10. A suction device, comprising a hollow suction member, an endlesstraveling cover therefor having openings thereinto through which suctionis applied and means for hydraulically balancing pneumatic pressureagainst said cover and supplying a 1i uid'to effect a seal between saidcover and ollow suction member.

ancing the pneumatic pressure against said cover.

13. In combination with an endless foraminous belt carrying a web to bedried, a stationary suction member, a traveling cover thereforsupporting said foraminous belt and having openings into said suctionmember for the application of suction therethrough to said 'web andmeans for hydraulically balancing the pneumatic pressure against saidcover and for eiiecting a liquid seal between said cover and suctionmember.

14. In a paper machine including'a forming wire, a stationary suctiondevice asso' ciated with said forming wire in place of the usual suctionboxes comprising a hollow suction member, a traveling cover thereforsupporting said forming wire and means for hydraulically balancing thepneumatic pressure against said cover.

15. In a paper machine including a forming wire, a stationary suctiondevice associated with said forming wire in place of the usual suctionboxes comprising a hollow suction member, a belt therefor having acorrugated surface serving to support said form:

supporting said forming wire passing over the open top of said box-likemember and.

suction member open at the' top, troughs within said member extendinglongitudinally of themachine, endless flexible belts for supporting saidforming wire passing over the open top of said box-like member, meansfor suppl 'ng a liquid under pressure to said troug s to balance the airpressure on the upper surface of said belts and means for effecting a liuid seal between said belts and the up or e ge of said box-like member.

18. na paper machine including a forming wire, a stationary suctiondevice associated with said forming wire in place of the usual suctionboxes, comprising abox-like suction member open at the top, troughswithin said member, endless flexible belts for supporting said formingwire passing over the open top of said boxlike member, said belts havinga corrugated upper surface with openings through the bases thereof intothe interior of said box-like member and means for supplying a liquidunder pressure to said troughs to balance the air pressure on the uppersurface of said belts.

19. In a paper machine including a forming wire, a stationary suctiondevice associated with said forming wire in place of the usual suctionboxes, comprising a'box-like suction member extending the width of themachine and open at the top, a plurality of spaced troughs within saidbox extending longitudinally of the machine with their upper edges belowthe upper edges of said boxlike member, an endless flexible belt passingover each-of said troughs, said belts abutting each other and beingprovided on their upper surfaces with corrugations on the crests ofwhich the forming wire is adapted to be supported, said belts havingopenings near their respective edges for draining from the bottoms ofsaid corrugations into said boxlike member and means for supplying waterunder COIlStZlI ll) head to said troughs to balance the air pressure onthe upper surface of said belts.

20. In a paper machine including a forming wire, a stationary suctiondevice associated with said forming wire in place of the usual suctionboxes, comprising a box-like suction member extending the width of themachine and'open at the top, a plurality of spaced troughs within saidbox extending longitudinally of the machine with their up per edgesbelow the upper edges of said boxlike member, an endless flexible beltpassing over each of said troughs, said belts abutting each other andbeing provided-on their upper surfaces with corrugations on the crestsof which the forming wireis adapted to be like member, the outslde beltsclosely abutting the sides of said box-like member, deckle strapssealing the joints thus formed, channels formed in said sides, means forsupplying water under static head to said troughs to balance the airpressure on the upper surface of said belts and means for supplyingwater to said channels to seal said joints.

21. An endless flexible belt for a suction device having a smooth lowersurface and an upper transversely corrugated surface, the crests of saidcorrugations being of hard rubber and having a wavy contour.

22. An endless flexible belt for a suction device having a smooth lowersurface and an upper transversely corrugated surface extending laterallybeyond said lower surface, the crests of said corrugations being v ofhard rubber and having a wavy contour.

23. An endless flexible belt having a smooth lower surface and an uppertransversely corrugated surface, the crests of said corrugations beingof metal.

24. An endless flexible belt having a smooth lower surface and an uppertransversely corrugated surface, the crests of said corrugations beingof metal and having a wavy contour.

25. An endless flexible belt having a smooth lower surface and an uppertransversely corrugated surface extending laterally beyond said lowersurface, the crests of said corrugations being of metal and having awavy contour.

26. In a removable F ourdrinier paper machine, the combination with anendless foraminous belt carrying a web to be dried, of a stationarysuction member, a traveling cover therefor supporting said foraminousbelt and having openings into said suction member for the ap lication ofsuction therethrough to said we means for hydraulically balancing thepneumatic pressure against said cover and means for laterally removingsaid Fourdrinier as a umt.

27. An endless flexible belt for use with a having openings between saidcorrugations for the application of suction. I I

29. In a paper machine including a form-, ing wire, a stationary suctiondevice comprising a box-like member open at its top, a

plurality of laterally spaced troughs extending longitudinally of the toof said member, a plurality of endless fiexi le members supporting saidforming wire and passing over 10 said troughs, said flexible membersabutting each other beyond the sides of said troughs, recesses in theend Walls of said troughs, having recesses therein said recesses openinginto vertical passages located between said troughs and under the jointsbetween said flexible members, means for supplying a liquid underpressure to said troughs for hydraulically balancing the pneumaticpressure against said flexible members, and means for supplying liquidto said recesses to seal the joints between said flexible member. Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Beloit, RockCounty,

lVisconsin.

EARL E. BERRY.

